Review: Mousebean Wrist Rest

David Dorn rests his wrist on a strange - yet effective - new Mouse partner...

Product	Mousebean
Company	Mousebean Limited
Web	www.mousebean.com
Price	£6.99
We like	Very comfortable to use
We don't like	None
Rating	10/10
Requirements

Sometimes bits of PC related kit just drop onto my desktop unannounced. The Mousebean is one such item. When it arrived, I had no idea what it was, or what it was for. Lest you have the same problem, let me elucidate.

There's a gotcha that can affect anyone who uses a mouse (or keyboard, come to that) heavily or for long periods. It's called RSI - Repetitive Strain Injury - and as far as computer users are concerned, is all to do with keeping the hands and wrists at uncomfortable angles. Eventually, it puts a strain on the tendons in the wrist - particularly in the carpal tunnel (the bit between the two fleshy pads at the base of your hand). Hence the term "Carpal Tunnel Syndrome".

It seems that the Mousebean is intended to alleviate some of the pressure and angle-related problems that can lead to early RSI. It's hard to describe it in any other way that a mobile wrist rest and angle fixer, really, since that's pretty much what it does.

If you use it as shown here to sit at the base of the hand while the hand sits on the mouse, your wrist (well, mine, anyway) just naturally adopts a straight angle.

At first, it feels funny - weird, even - since my wrist is normally flat on the desk while I'm cupping my Intellimouse Explorer, and having it raised up a centimetre or so is not what I'm used to.

However, it hasn't taken me long to feel a sight more comfortable with the bean at the back of my mouse.

Now, it comes with a little self-adhesive attachment to allow you to connect the bean to the mouse on a permanent basis. Depending on the size of your hand, this may be a blessing or an encumbrance - you'd need to play around for a while to find out whether or not it will suit you being permanently attached. For my own part, I prefer it free floating behind the mouse - it makes it easier to "finger" the mouse itself. I found that with the bean attached, I ended up using my whole arm to move around.

Will it work?

Difficult question. I've found fixed wrist rests on mouse pads to be particularly uncomfortable, but the bean is very comfortable in use. I'm no expert on RSI and the peculiarities of the human anatomy, but I do know what feels "nice" - and the bean does make my mouse usage much more comfortable. The thing is, at £6.99, it's not going to break the bank to find out.

Verdict

I'll be honest - I thought the Mousbean was a bit of a faff for not much reward at first, but the more I've used it, the more comfortable and friendly I've found it. Even if it does nothing whatever for RSI and what have you, it's made my mousing much more comfortable than it ever has been. Like the wheel on my mouse, I reckon I'll miss it when I use someone else's PC that isn't equipped with one.

 

Dave Dorn